Kathryn Joosten

Actress, Psychiatric Nurse

Amidst Hollywood's ranks, finding a late bloomer attaining success on television or in film was more the exception than the rule. For Emmy-winning actress Kathryn Joosten, however, paying her dues in numerous ... Read more »

Amidst Hollywood's ranks, finding a late bloomer attaining success on television or in film was more the exception than the rule. For Emmy-winning actress Kathryn Joosten, however, paying her dues in numerous forgettable projects ended up paving the way for her later success. Rather than toiling away for years as a waitress while trying to land auditions, she did not even catch the acting bug until middle age. And it was at that time that she hit big with recognizable roles on two of the most successful network programs of the new millennium: "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006), portraying the secretary to the President of the United States, and "Desperate Housewives" (ABC, 2004-2012), in which she essayed the ultimate snoopy suburban neighbor. Joosten's success story was even more unusual when considering the series of personal setbacks she had overcome on her way to establishing a career as a dependable character actress, adept at both high drama and wacky comedy alike.

Played memorable role as Chazz's Mom in the comedy "Wedding Crashers"

Cast in a recurring role as one of the incarnations of God on the CBS series "Joan of Arcadia"

2001

Appeared in the "My Old Lady" episode of "Scrubs" (NBC)

1999

Cast as Delores Landingham, secretary to President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) on "The West Wing" (NBC); character was killed in a traffic accident at the end of season two; appeared in a dream sequence in 2002

1998

Appeared in a recurring role as the bingo buddy to Drew Carey's girlfriend on the ABC sitcom "The Drew Carey Show"

1998

Landed recurring role on the ABC sitcom "Dharma & Greg"

1997

Appeared on an episode of "Frasier" (NBC) as the mother and personal secretary of Frasier's conniving agent Bebe Glazer